Utility Maintenance Tech/Locator

The Utility Maintenance Technician protects PWC’s underground infrastructure by accurately locating and marking facilities in response to Georgia 811 locate requests. The role ensures compliance with the Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act (GUFPA), O.C.G.A. § 25-9, and PWC standards.

You will work independently in the field, keep accurate locate records, and support maintenance crews with facility locating, water and sewer line work, repairs, taps, and grinder pump installations. The position involves a lot of walking and working outdoors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Locate requests

• Receive, review, and prioritize Georgia 811 locate tickets, including normal, emergency, and large-project tickets.
• Locate and mark water mains, services, sewer force mains, low-pressure grinder lines, gravity sewer, and reclaimed water lines within statutory response times.
• Mark facilities using the APWA uniform color code: blue for potable water, green for sewer, purple for reclaimed water.
• Post accurate positive responses to the Georgia 811 system for every ticket (marked, clear, or conflict).
• Respond to emergency locate requests and after-hours call-outs per the on-call rotation.

Field locating

• Operate electromagnetic pipe and cable locators, tracer wire connections, sondes, and push-camera transmitters.
• Locate non-metallic pipe using tracer wire, valve/cleanout access, as-builts, and probing methods.
• Identify and report broken or missing tracer wire, damaged valve boxes, and unmarked facilities for correction.
• Coordinate with excavators on site meets, unclear tickets, and marks that must be refreshed.

Maintenance and crew support

• Support maintenance crews by locating facilities for repairs, new water and irrigation taps, and grinder pump startups.
• Assist with water and sewer line work, including backhoe operation as needed.
• Maintain locating equipment, perform calibration checks, and keep marking supplies stocked.

Records and systems

• Document each locate with photos, notes, and completion time in ElementsXS work orders.
• Use GIS maps, as-built drawings, and Document Locator records to find facilities; report map errors to GIS for correction.
• Maintain locate logs to support damage investigations and PWC’s defense of damage claims.

Damage prevention and safety

• Investigate and document facility damages, including photos, measurements, and mark condition.
• Follow PWC safety rules, traffic control requirements, and job safety analyses (JSAs).
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid Georgia driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
• Ability to read maps, as-built drawings, and GIS displays.
• Basic computer and smartphone/tablet skills for ticket management and work orders.
• Complete PWC locator training and Georgia 811 locator training within 90 days of hire.

Preferred

• Job experience in the water, gas, or electric utility industries.
• Experience operating a backhoe.
• Experience with water or sewer line work.

Working Conditions

• Fieldwork outdoors in all weather, with frequent walking.
• Independent work in the field, with regular driving between job sites.
• Participation in an on-call rotation for emergency and after-hours locate requests.

Piedmont Water Company is a Drug-Free Workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $43,969 - $58,460